Gynecological Diseases - Obstetrics and InFertility and IVF

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a treatment for infertility in which a woman’s eggs (oocytes) are fertilized by sperm in a laboratory dish. One or more of the fertilized eggs (embryos) are then transferred into the woman’s uterus, where it is hoped they will implant and produce a pregnancy.

Who Should Consider In Vitro Fertilization?

IVF is usually considered by couples who have:

• Absent or blocked fallopian tubes
• Severe male factor infertility (sperm counts or sperm motility is low)
• Advanced reproductive age, as time to conception is critical and pregnancy rates with other therapies are low
• All other causes of infertility, after failing treatment with other therapies (eg, endometriosis, ovulation disorders, unexplained infertility)

Although IVF has a high rate of success in helping couples to become pregnant, it has some disadvantages as well, including high costs, potential risks from fertility medications and invasive procedures used, as well as an increased rate of multiple gestation (ie, twins or triplets). There may also be an increased risk of some pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth. Ectopic pregnancies can occur after IVF, although the risk is much lower than with other fertility therapies.

Vitro Fertilization Procedure

The IVF procedure consists of several steps that take place over a period of weeks:

• Education of the couple about the complex steps involved in IVF, its risks and benefits, and techniques for giving injections at home
• Stimulation of the ovaries to produce several eggs
• Retrieval of the eggs from the ovaries and obtaining a semen sample
• Fertilization of the eggs with sperm and growth of the embryos in the laboratory
• Transfer of one or more embryos into the uterus

More than one cycle of IVF treatment is often necessary before pregnancy occurs. Unfortunately, some women will not become pregnant despite multiple IVF attempts.